Friday, November 12, 2010

The Big Easy Is Too Easy For Monty Williams

John Wooden said that a coach is someone who can give correction without causing resentment.

At the professional level, that personality trait is even more vital. Just ask Brad Childress.

When it comes to big money in elite sports, rarely is a coach's success - or failure - a result of his knowledge of X's and O's or his ability to compile game strategies. No one reaches the elite level of competition without knowing what they are doing.

What ultimately determines a great coach - besides the overall talent level on the roster - is his ability to reach his players. It doesn't matter what you are trying to tell your team if no one is listening. Getting a player's ear and keeping it is the most valuable trait a coach can have.

The latest coach to burst on the scene with such a trait seems to be New Orleans first-year coach Monty Williams, who has the Hornets off to the best start in franchise history.